English Grammar MCQS

Correct answer: in. A person is a lecturer “in” a subject, so the correct preposition is “in”.

Background: The preposition “in” normally identifies the academic subject or field.

• at: “At” is used for a place or institution, not a subject.
• of: “Of” is much less common here; “lecturer in English” is the standard form.
• off: “Off” does not fit the meaning.

Did you know? We say “professor of English” but “lecturer in English”.

Memory trick: Lecturer IN a subject.

Correct answer: have. When two subjects are connected by 'as well as', the verb agrees strictly with the first subject ('You'). So the verb should agree with ‘You’: ‘have agreed’ is the best choice.

Background: Phrases like 'as well as', 'along with', and 'together with' do not make the subject compound.

• has: 'Has' is singular third-person and does not agree with 'You'.
• is / was: 'Is' and 'was' are incorrect verb forms for 'You'.

Did you know? Removing the parenthetical phrase gives: 'You have agreed to the proposal.'

Memory trick: 'As well as' rule → Focus on the first subject ('You' → 'have').

Correct answer: takes. The proverb is “It takes two to make a quarrel”, meaning both sides share the blame.

Background: The proverb is written in the simple present tense.

• took: “Took” changes the tense of the proverb.
• take: “Take” does not agree with the singular subject “it”.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because “takes” is correct.

Did you know? A similar proverb is “It takes two to tango”.

Memory trick: It TAKES two.

Correct answer: Spanish. “Trampoline” comes from the Spanish trampolín.

Background: The Spanish word itself comes from an Italian word for stilts.

• Egyptian: The word is not Egyptian.
• Latin: The word is not Latin.
• Persian: The word is not Persian.

Did you know? George Nissen helped popularise the modern trampoline in the 1930s.

Memory trick: Trampoline → trampolín (Spanish).

Correct answer: Cubism. Salvador Dalí is a famous surrealist painter, and Georges Braque co-founded Cubism with Pablo Picasso.

Background: In an analogy, the second pair has the same relationship as the first: artist and movement.

• Realism: Braque did not belong to the realist movement.
• Pop: Pop art came later, with artists such as Andy Warhol.
• Portraits: Portraits are a type of painting, not an art movement.

Did you know? Braque and Picasso developed Cubism around 1907–08.

Memory trick: Dalí → Surrealism; Braque → Cubism.

Correct answer: Sack. The proverb is “An empty sack cannot stand upright”, meaning a hungry or poor person cannot work properly.

Background: It shows that people need their basic needs met before they can function well.

• Container: “Container” is not used in this proverb.
• Vessel: “Empty vessels make the most noise” is a different proverb.
• Bag: “Bag” is not used in this proverb.

Did you know? Proverbs have fixed wording and cannot be changed.

Memory trick: Sack stands only when full.

Correct answer: Cripple. To hamstring is to cripple, just as a stake is a bet. Both pairs are synonyms.

Background: Hamstring literally means to cut the tendon behind the knee.

• Ride: “Ride” is not a synonym of hamstring.
• Scratch: “Scratch” is not a synonym of hamstring.
• Wager: “Wager” is a synonym of stake, not of hamstring.

Did you know? Figuratively it means to cause something to be crippled or ineffective.

Memory trick: Same relationship: synonym pairs.

Correct answer: My friend said that if he had known, he would certainly have helped me.. The pronouns change (I → he, you → me) and the past perfect conditional stays the same.

Background: In indirect speech, the pronouns change to match the new speaker.

• My friend said that if I had known, I would have certainly helped him.: The pronoun “I” should change to “he”, not stay as “I”.
• My friend said that if he knew, he would certainly help me.: “Knew” and “help” change the tense of the original.
• My friend said if he has known, he would have helped me.: “Has known” is the wrong tense.

Did you know? Third conditional sentences do not backshift further.

Memory trick: Third conditional stays the same; only the pronouns change.

Correct answer: Uncertain. “Up in the air” means undecided or uncertain.

Background: The idiom describes plans that are not settled.

• Fly in the sky: It is not about flying in the sky.
• Sailing in air: It is not about sailing in the air.
• Climbing the mountain: It is not about climbing a mountain.

Did you know? Its opposite is “settled” or “set in stone”.

Memory trick: Up in the air = not decided.

Correct answer: Cool one’s heels. “Cool one’s heels” means to wait, especially for a long time.

Background: It is often used when someone is kept waiting by another person.

• Cool one’s toes: “Cool one’s toes” is not an idiom.
• Cool one’s feet: “Cool one’s feet” is not an idiom.
• Cool one’s ankles: “Cool one’s ankles” is not an idiom.

Did you know? Example: “They left me to cool my heels outside his office.”

Memory trick: Heels = waiting.

Correct answer: Work. “Unless” already means “if not”, so the verb after it is positive: “Unless you work hard…”.

Background: In a conditional sentence, the verb after “unless” is positive.

• Worked: “Worked” does not match the present-tense clause.
• Do not work: “Do not work” makes a double negative with “unless”.
• Did not work: “Did not work” makes a double negative with “unless”.

Did you know? “Unless you work hard” = “If you do not work hard”.

Memory trick: Unless = if not.

Correct answer: Mint. A mint is a place where coins are made.

Background: Government mints make the coins that circulate in a country.

• Office: An office is a place of work or administration.
• Mine: A mine is a place where minerals are dug.
• Barn: A barn is a farm building.

Did you know? “Mint” also means in perfect condition.

Memory trick: Mint = money maker.

Correct answer: Obedient. Impudent means rude and disrespectful, so “obedient” (respectful and submissive) is the best opposite given.

Background: The word comes from the Latin impudens, “shameless”.

• Rash: “Rash” means hasty or reckless.
• Rude: “Rude” is similar in meaning to impudent.
• Unsuitable: “Unsuitable” means not appropriate.

Did you know? A synonym is “insolent”.

Memory trick: Impudent = rude; opposite = respectful.

Correct answer: Negligent. Diligent means careful and hardworking, and “negligent” (careless) is its opposite.

Background: Negligence means failure to take proper care.

• Industrious: “Industrious” is a synonym of diligent.
• Hardworking: “Hardworking” is a synonym of diligent.
• Persistent: “Persistent” is similar in meaning to diligent.

Did you know? Diligent and negligent look alike, but their meanings are opposite.

Memory trick: Diligent ↔ Negligent.

Correct answer: Carefree. Blithe means cheerful and carefree.

Background: “Blithe” often describes someone who shows no concern.

• Dolorous: “Dolorous” means sorrowful.
• Desolate: “Desolate” means empty or bleak.
• Morose: “Morose” means gloomy.

Did you know? Noël Coward’s famous play is called Blithe Spirit.

Memory trick: Blithe = light-hearted.

Correct answer: Misrepresentation. A travesty is an absurd or distorted imitation, so “misrepresentation” is the closest synonym.

Background: “A travesty of justice” means a very unfair judgment.

• Magic: “Magic” is unrelated.
• Tribute: “Tribute” means a show of respect.
• Slurry: “Slurry” means a thin mixture of mud or cement and water.

Did you know? The word comes from the Italian travestire, “to disguise”.

Memory trick: Travesty = twisted imitation.

Correct answer: Panacea. A panacea is a remedy for all diseases or problems.

Background: It comes from the Greek Panakeia, the goddess of healing.

• Antidote: An antidote counteracts a particular poison.
• Elixir: An elixir is a magical potion, such as an elixir of life.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because panacea is correct.

Did you know? Pan = all, akos = cure.

Memory trick: Pan (all) + akos (cure) = panacea.

Correct answer: Down. “Turn down” means to reject.

Background: Phrasal verbs change meaning with the preposition.

• Off: “Turn off” means to switch off something.
• Up: “Turn up” means to arrive or increase the volume.
• Against: “Turn against” means to become hostile to someone.

Did you know? “Turn down” can also mean to lower the volume.

Memory trick: Turn down = say no.

Correct answer: For. “Concerned for” means worried about someone’s welfare.

Background: “Concerned about” is also commonly used in this sense.

• With: “Concerned with” means involved in or about a subject.
• Of: “Concerned of” is incorrect.
• Regarding: “Regarding” does not fit grammatically here.

Did you know? Concern for = care for.

Memory trick: Concerned FOR = caring for.